Blackshirt, alot of these people scout out territory far from where they live. When you see strangers on bicycles or skateboards cruising the neighborhood at least make eye contact so they know they have been noticed. They may not come back later but go to find easier pickings. We had a rash of people going door to door panhandling and the real old people were afraid not to give them a few dollars (one exposed himself to an 80 year old woman). Any valuable items always dissappear from your porch and all the outside water taps and irrigation are plastic now because the brass ones are gone. We would wake up in the morning to a flood of water from the valves being gone. It's better now since everyone is watching and us more capable old guys keep an eye on things.